Bases

Where you live shapes almost everything else about nomad life: what you spend, which visa you need, how easily you make friends, and whether the air, the internet and the healthcare hold up. This section is about choosing a base and then settling in.
Start with our guide to the best countries for digital nomads, which sets out a 2026 visa snapshot with income thresholds, real costs and a rough guide by income. Then browse by region: Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and East Asia.
Before you commit to any place, check six things: whether you can stay legally for as long as you plan, whether the cost fits your income, how much your working hours overlap with your team or clients, where you would get medical care, how you will meet people, and what the air quality and weather do through the year. Our slow travel guide explains why a month-long test stay beats a week of sightseeing, and how to travel full-time on a budget shows what popular bases actually cost. Staying long also raises a tax question, so read digital nomad taxes before you settle.
City guides: Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Medellín and Fukuoka, each covering community, health and costs. For Thailand’s remote-work visa, see the Destination Thailand Visa guide.